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Studies on the effects of growing substrates and physical factors in sweet pepper forcing in context with the generation of calcium deficiency symptoms
61-65.Views:343In the publications available for us, exact levels of physical factors and those of the growing technology determining Ca2+ deficiency are rarely detailed. Although the influencing role of the various environmental factors (humidity, light, temperature) is known, we had only little information about their exact values which could be presented for the growing practice. Sweet pepper varieties of the same type grown in various substrates responded to the environmental factors in different ways. Our results revealed that increasing temperature of the root zone had the most significant effect on the incidence of Ca2+ -deficient fruits. Their amount, however, gave different results depending on the growing substrate. In forced sweet pepper grown in soil the proportion of Ca2+ - deficient fruits were significantly lower compared to the plants grown on rockwool. Fruits derived from forcing on perlite, in container were damaged the least by the blossom end rot deficiency symptoms. Our experimental results and technological suggestions are based on measurement results of three years.
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Enhancing African leafy vegetable productivity and nutrient levels through manure and fertilizer in Kitui County, Kenya
52-60.Views:89African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) are crucial components of diet globally due to their significant nutritional value. We conducted a field experiment in October 2022 to assess the effect of fertilizer application rates on the growth and nutritive value of four ALVs (Solanum nigrum, Cleome gynandra, Amaranthus hybridus, and Vigna unguiculata) at South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) Teaching and Research Farm. We collected data through a randomized complete block experimental design that comprised four treatments: manure alone (M), fertilizer alone (F), manure + fertilizer (M+F), and a control (C). Once the planted vegetable seeds had been established, we counted their leaves on a weekly basis and averaged after a month. At the end of the experiment, the ALVs leaves were harvested. They were analyzed for retinol, a precursor of vitamin A, iron, calcium and zinc. It was found that manure and fertilizer treatments significantly increased the number of ALVs leaves. Results also showed that the Solanum nigrum had the highest number of leaves at 118.5% in M+F treatment as compared to the control. Across all vegetables, a combined treatment (M+F) significantly affected the retinol mean (P=0.0063) while crop type and the interaction between crop type and the treatment had no statistically meaningful impact on any nutrient. This suggests that fertilization effects on retinol are independent of crop type. These results highlight the importance of soil fertilization in influencing vitamin A levels in ALVs.
